What is the prostate gland?

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate makes a fluid that mixes with sperm and other fluids during ejaculation. A normal prostate is about the size of a walnut.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is when abnormal cells grow in the prostate gland. Like many types of cancer, prostate cancer can be aggressive. This means it grows quickly and can spread to other parts of the body. (When cancer spreads, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.”) Prostate cancer can also grow more slowly.

If you have prostate cancer, it is important for your doctor to monitor the growth of your cancer carefully. If left unchecked, the cancer can grow quickly and spread to other organs in your body. This makes treatment much more difficult.

How prevalent in prostate cancer? Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

Men have a 17% lifetime risk of prostate cancer. However, only 3% of men die from prostate cancer. Black men have the highest risk of prostate cancer in the world. Asian and Hispanic men are at lower risk than white men. The rate of prostate cancer is about 2.5-fold greater in men who have a first-degree relative with the disease. The risk of prostate cancer appears to be even greater if the affected relative is a brother rather than a father, if the affected relative is younger than 55 years, or if two or more first-degree relatives are affected. Investigation into nutrition related risk is ongoing and still inconclusive.

How can I screen for prostate cancer? When should I start?

Your doctor may examine your prostate by putting a gloved, lubricated finger a few inches into your rectum to feel your prostate gland. This is called a digital rectal exam (DRE). A normal prostate feels firm. If there are hard spots on the prostate, your doctor may suggest additional testing to check for prostate cancer. The effectiveness of DRE for prostate cancer screening is still not will established.

Another way to check for prostate cancer is with a blood test called the PSA test. PSA is short for prostate-specific antigen. PSA is a glycoprotein expressed by normal and neoplastic tissue. Men who have prostate cancer may have a higher level of PSA in their blood. However, the PSA level can also be high because of less serious causes, such as infection or prostate enlargement. PSA is considered abnormal is the level is above 4 ng/ml. The PSA screening test is controversial. You should discuss this blood test with your primary care physician. Screening begins at age 40 for black men or men with a first degree relative with prostate cancer and is done yearly. For white/Asian/Hispanic men without a family history, screening begins at age 50.

What happens if I have an elevated PSA and/or and abnormal DRE?

The next step would be referral to your local urologist for a prostate biopsy.

What are the treatments for prostate cancer?

Treatment options include watching waiting, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

Discussion Points for Prostate Cancer Screening

• Prostate cancer is an important and common disease and becomes more common with age
• Although prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men, most men with prostate cancer do not die of the disease
• No one knows if regular prostate cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from the disease
• False positive test results occur: about 70 percent of men with an abnormal result do not have cancer
• False-negative test results occur: about 20 percent of men with a normal result have cancer
• Prostate-specific antigen values can be elevated for reasons other than cancer
• If a test result is abnormal, a biopsy of the prostate gland is the next step
• If a prostate biopsy shows cancer, treatment options will be offered
• Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the extent of disease and may include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy
• Treatment for prostate cancer is associated with sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction and other adverse effects; the rates of these complications depend on the treatment used and are higher with increasing age and the presence of other diseases

Greetings! When asked to write an article on “primary prevention of heart disease” I am eager to give you sounds science and useful tips on how you can stay heart healthy. I hope that you use these tips to have an overall enhancement of your lifestyle.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States for both men and women. There are several modifiable risk factors for the prevention of heart disease that you can implement with the help of your primary care physician.

Tobacco cessation

If you smoke STOP! Smoking compromises your cardiopulmonary function. There are several ways to quit soking. You can try nicotine patches, Wellbutrin, Chantix, acupuncture, and more. Please see your primary care physician for the best treatment for you.

Exercise

The American Academy of Family Physicians and American Heart Association recommend 30 minutes of physical activity 5 times a weeks. This totals 150 minutes per week. Your heart rate should range between 100-160 beats per minute during those thirty minutes. Examples of good forms of physical activity are brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga. Please see your doctor to lay out a good exercise program for you.

Heart healthy diet

A heart healthy diet consists of eating 1800 to 2000 calories per days. You should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, low fat or non fat dairy products, fish, legumes, and sources of protein low in saturated fat (e.g. poultry, lean meats, plant sources). Limit saturated fat intake to less than 10% of calories, limit cholesterol intake to less than 300 calories, and limit intake of trans-fatty acids. A good rule of thumb: you should have a lot of color in your fruits and vegetables. Each type of fruit and vegetable contains necessary vitamins and nutrients. Each your fruits and vegetables lightly cooked or raw and lightly salted.

Weight maintenance/reduction

You should keep your body mass index for women around 18-24 and men 22-25. Weight maintenance happens through portion sizing, and eat the “heart healthy diet”. Weight reduction and maintenance happens through 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Psychosocial factors and depression

Depression may predispose you to cardiac disease by physiologic and behavioral mechanisms. Depression can potentially lead to greater platelet activation, increased inflammatory processes in the boy, mental-stress induced ischemia, and more. Behavioral mechanisms include lack of diet control, exercise, poor social support, and medication non adherence. It is of utmost importance for you to care for your heart on a physical an psychological level. Please speak to your primary care physician for depression screening.

Blood pressure

Your blood pressure should be around 120/80. You can screen your blood pressure by purchasing a blood pressure cuff and machine at your local pharmacy. Blood pressure can be maintained by eating a low salt diet and exercise. If you suspect you have high blood pressure, please see your primary care physician for early intervention.

Cholesterol

You should have your cholesterol checked once every 3-5 years. This is called a “fasting lipid”. The blood test should be drawn after an 8 hour fast. Your doctor should check for total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (bad cholesterol), and HDL (good cholesterol). Your LDL should be around 100 and your HDL should be around 35-50.

Diabetes

You should have a “fasting sugar” ordered by your primary care doctor. Again, this should be done on an 8 hour fast. Your sugar level should be below 99 for a normal level. Between 100-125, the diagnosis of “impaired fasting glucose” is given. Above 126, the diagnosis of diabetes is given. Diabetes is a very serious risk factor for heart disease. It is imperative you work with your primary care physician to make sure your sugars are controlled.

Aspirin

The is some evidence that taking 81mg of aspirin a day helps prevent heart disease.

Now you may ask, what are the typical signs and symptoms of chest pain?

Typical chest pain would be left sided, crushing, radiating into the left arm and/or jaw, and heavy pressure. This type of chest pain can be related to your heart. But many times the chest pain is because of heartburn, muscle sprain, and other related diagnoses. Women and diabetics tend to have atypical chest pain.

Please, see your primary care physician to get heart healthy! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 847 289 8555 or drssusarla@gmail.com.

Skin cancer has been on the rise since the early 1990s. It is thought the increase in skin cancer is due to increased exposure to the sun and depletion of the ozone layer. One out of 6 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point. Skin cancer accounts for 33% of all cancers in the United States. Most skin cancers are not harmful. However, the most harmful skin cancer, malignant melanoma is on the rapid rise in the United States.

The most frequent question patients ask me is: “Dr. Susarla, can you take a look at this skin discoloration or mole on my face and/or body?”

As the weather is getting warmer, many of us will be doing outdoor activities thus exposing our skin to harmful UV light. This UV light can lead to many different types of skin diseases and skin cancer.

So now you may ask “Am I at risk for skin cancer?”

There are three main predisposing factors to skin cancer:

1. Fair skin
2. Poor tanning ability
3. Predilection to burn

Another good way to assess your risk for skin cancer is to use the Sun Reactive Skin Type Classification or Fitzpatrick Classification.

Tanning ability is based on skin condition 45 minutes of sun exposure after winter or a prolonged period of no sun exposure. Types I and II are at highest risk for skin cancer.

Screening

Currently, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends annual skin cancer screening for all patients. However, the United States Preventive Health Task Force states that there is insufficient evidence for or against routine skin examinations.

Therefore, I recommend you see your primary care physician on an annual basis. You should discuss your occupation, lifestyle and risk factors with your physician. You should also show any abnormal lesions on your skin to your physician. Your physician will decide on when skin cancer screening is most appropriate for you.

Diagnosis

There are two main types of skin cancer: nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer. Typical nonmelanoma skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell cancer. These skin cancers are easily treated and are very rarely associated with metastatic disease.

Common types of basal skin cancer are found above.

A) Nodular, B) Pigmented, C) Sclerosing, and D) Superficial

The nonmelanotic skin cancers can be treated with a simple biopsy and excision of the cancer. You should see your primary care physician regarding the best treatment option for you. Other therapies used occasionally include oral retinoids; topical tretinoin; carbon dioxide and neodynium-YAG lasers; topical 5-FU; and, for inoperable and metastatic tumors, chemotherapy.

Melanoma skin cancer is a very serious life threatening skin cancer. The most common skin cancer in this group is malignant melanoma. If you have a suspicious pigmented lesion the ABCD mnemonic is very helpful.

The ABCD Checklist for Detecting Cutaneous Melanoma

Treatment options vary depending on the type of malignant melanoma. You should discuss this with your primary care physician.

Prevention

The best prevention is to stay out of the sun!! Also refrain of smoking, tanning beds, occupational and environmental hazards if possible.

If you are in the sun, please wear sunscreen! A good sunscreen only needs to be SPF (sun protective factor) 15 or 30. You should apply sunscreen every 2 hours. A good skin care routine is helpful as well. I recommend Epoince or Peace Spa products to our patients because the skin care lines are based on sound science.

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Juvederm Special Offer!

Get $75 OFF the purchase of a Juvederm Syringe or $200 of Botox FREE! (w/purchase of Juvederm Syringe)

These amazing savings will only be available in the month of April and MAY!
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45 Minute Massage for ONLY $22

Offer valid for 1st time clients

Join us on May 9, 2012 from 5:00-8:00 pm, for a talk by Alma Laser on the new and latest IPIXEL. We’ll be raffling $3,000 worth of cosmetic services and products*. It will definitely be a night to remember!

• Enjoy complimentary food and drink.
• Update your accessories: jewelry show by Premier.
• Learn about the latest injection trends by Allergan and Merz Aesthetics.
• Try out eco-friendly skin care products by PEACE Spa.

RSVP to OM Medispa at 847.289.8555 or info@ommedispa.com

* All proceeds from raffle will go to the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care Centers at Provena and Sherman Hospital

Want to know how HCG can help you lose 1 pound a day? OM Medispa will be holding an HCG Share Night, October 26, 6:30pm-7:30pm. Come and listen to the success and trials of our patients who have completed the HCG diet protocol, and judge for yourself if this is right for you. Feel free to ask any questions!

Yoga can maximize your weight loss during HCG! Metabolize fat faster, as you regain control of your mind and body. Lisa Bertke, owner of Prana Yoga, will demonstrate the benefits of this exercise. Get back to your energized, disciplined self again.

6:30pm-7:00pm: over view of HCG diet program, along with an open forum for all to hear from our former HCG patients.

7:00pm-7:30pm: Lisa Bertke will explain and demonstrate HCG Yoga exercises.

$50 OFF for HCG Diet program & a FREE yoga class at Prana Yoga if you sign up for the protocol that night!